NFL Capsules: Jerry Jones ‘interested' in what T.O. says

CARROLLTON - Terrell Owens can't stop talking about his days with the Dallas Cowboys - and Jerry Jones can't stop listening.

"I'm drawn to when he's featured on certain segments and I read carefully what's written," Jones said Thursday. "I'm interested."

Many Cowboys would prefer to let T.O. be out of sight and out of mind, relieved to no longer have to react to everything he says or does.

So why does Jones, the boss who dumped the disgruntled employee, remain fascinated?

"He's credible with me," Jones said. "That's what makes it interesting."

Players are cut all the time, even star players, and their bitterness toward the previous team usually goes away once the player settles in with a new team, as Owens has done with the Buffalo Bills.

But Owens keeps fanning the flames, often speculating that quarterback Tony Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett pushed for his release. Just a few weeks ago - on May 19, more than 10 weeks after he was cut - Owens posted this unedited note by Twitter: "blame the OC & romo!! but i'm happy 2 b where i am but i miss the other guys tht were & r true teammates."

More barbs could be coming in Owens' upcoming reality TV show.

"I don't know that it's blowing off steam. He could, just like anybody else, (have) conjecture," Jones said. "And I'm not being critical of him. At all. I really am not. Like I said, I'm just interested in his comments."

Jones also shot down Owens' conspiracy theory.

"I know how the decision was made and the very people he's mentioning might not know because I had to ultimately put all the rationale that I had together and make the decision," Jones said. "All I'm saying is, if he or anybody else mention people, it could be news to them. That's not how the decision came about."

Since the release, Jones has made it clear that Owens was cut to help improve locker-room harmony. Yet the owner said Thursday, "I did not think (his personality) was disruptive to this team."

"I did not," Jones repeated. "As a matter of fact, you have a huge percentage of our team - coaches and otherwise - that thought his personality was a positive thing."

That comment came in response to a question about this saga dragging out.

"Terrell's got the personality that kind of keeps it going, too, and that's not a bad thing at all," Jones said.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he also reads what is written about Owens.

"It goes on and on. It's best to just go forward," Phillips said. "We had a great relationship when Terrell was here and he did a lot of great things for us. It's going to be tough to replace him as far as I'm concerned."

Cowboys, Texans likely to join lotto game 

CARROLLTON - The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans are close to announcing plans for instant-win games through the Texas Lottery.

After Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Thursday that an announcement would be "coming pretty soon," a spokesman for the Texas Lottery Commission said negotiations are being finalized for separate games featuring each of the state's NFL teams.

The NFL cleared the way for teams to have licensing agreements with their state-sponsored lotteries during team owners meetings in May. The New England Patriots and Washington Redskins already have announced their deals.

"We're real excited to be working with two such great organizations in the state of Texas," said Bobby Heith, director of media relations for the Texas Lottery Commission. "Until those negotiations are complete there's not more we can say. We're working diligently to complete them."

Gary Grief, the Texas Lottery Commission's executive director, mentioned the NFL team negotiations on Thursday during the commission's monthly, all-staff meeting.

Jones declined further comment until the official announcement.

NFL teams also are now allowed to wear a small patch with a corporate logo on their practice jerseys. The Texans and Green Bay Packers are among teams that have shown interest, and Jones made it clear the Cowboys are interested, too.

"We'll take a look at that, certainly," he said. "That's our style. ... We have some aggressive cats back there in marketing."

Presenters set for Pro Football Hall of Fame

NEW YORK - Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. has chosen ESPN personality Chris Berman as his presenter when he goes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this summer.

The Bills owner announced he had chosen his longtime friend Friday.

Other presenters include Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach for former wide receiver Bob Hayes; former Bills defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell for Bruce Smith; and former Chiefs president Carl Peterson for Derrick Thomas.

Randall McDaniel has picked his high school athletic director O.K. Fulton as his presenter, and Rod Woodson will be presented by business associate Tracy Foster.

The enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.

NFLPA settles lawsuit with retired players

Hall of Fame cornerback Herb Adderley is encouraged that the NFL Players Association has taken "an historic first step" in reconciling its long-standing rift with the old guard by settling a lawsuit with its retired players on Thursday.

In a surprise move, the NFLPA reversed course by dropping its appeal and reaching a $26.25 million settlement with Adderley and thousands of other retired players who had successfully sued the union for cutting them out of lucrative marketing deals.

"I'm elated that this thing is coming to a close," Adderley told The Associated Press. "It's a great feeling and I'm happy to be a small part of it."

NFLPA official George Atallah confirmed the settlement and said more details would be released during a Friday press conference in Washington. Adderley and union executive director DeMaurice Smith are scheduled to attend.

The settlement amount is close to the $28.1 million the NFLPA was ordered to pay after a federal jury in San Francisco ruled in favor of the players in November. The jury determined the union failed to include retired NFL players in deals with Electronic Arts Inc., the maker of the "Madden NFL" video game, and other companies.

Adderley filed the lawsuit in 2007 on behalf of 2,056 retired players who contended the union failed to actively pursue marketing deals on their behalf with video games, trading cards and others sports products.

The NFLPA appealed the ruling in February, a move that further angered retired players, who already felt disenfranchised by the union and its previous executive director, Gene Upshaw, who died in August.

Smith was elected to take over in March and called addressing the rift with retired players a top priority, and just as important as opening negotiations with the NFL on a new labor deal.

The settlement is the first concrete sign of a thaw between the two sides, and an indication that Smith is prepared to chart a new course for a union that's entering a critical juncture.

"Herb and I both believe that this is an historic first step in that direction," said attorney Ron Katz, who represented the retired players.

"(Smith) put his money where his mouth is," Katz said. "We think (the settlement) is consistent with what ‘De' Smith has been saying, ‘One team, one locker room, one voice.' This is a real step to a reconciliation."

Adderley has noted a significant difference in dealing with the union now that Smith is in control.

"I'm very encouraged, because the other administration wouldn't return calls or listen to most of the retired players, including myself," Adderley said. "Let this be the precedent that sets the stage for all the retired players to come together, and hopefully we can have the current players to come in with us, and we have peace."

Adderley also expressed hope that the union's marketing arm, Players Inc., will begin working to secure new marketing deals in which former players will be duly compensated.

Katz said the settlement requires court approval, though he doesn't foresee any obstacles.

Adderley never expected a settlement to come so soon, especially after NFLPA attorneys threatened to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.

"We want to seek justice for all the guys. And we wanted to bring some harmony and peace with the current and retired guys," said Adderley. "And this was the only way we knew to do it, was go to court to get people to listen."

-- John Wawrow

NFL union chief, player meet with lawmakers

WASHINGTON - The new head of the NFL players union and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth met with key players on another field Thursday - Congress - to build support on Capitol Hill for preventing an owners' lockout.

DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, held a series of Capitol Hill meetings only a day after the NFL and union started negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. Last year, the owners voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement in 2011, raising the possibility of a work stoppage in two years.

"Today, we're just up here to say hello, meet and greet, and introduce them to some of the best athletes in the world," Smith told The Associated Press before heading into a meeting with staffers from the House Judiciary Committee, later joined by the panel's chairman, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.

Smith and Foxworth also met with staffers from the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Commerce Committee.

"We're just meeting and greeting, having a good time," said Foxworth, a member of the union's executive committee. "I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to meet some of these great people."

Neither Smith nor Foxworth would discuss specifics of the meetings. Left unsaid was Congress' jurisdiction over the NFL in several areas, such as the antitrust exemption it grants the league for broadcasting, which lets the NFL sign TV contracts on behalf of all its teams.

The NFL declined to comment on the visit.

Smith brings Washington smarts to the job, as does NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the son of a former New York Republican congressman and senator. Smith, a Washington lawyer, served on the Obama transition team and previously worked for Attorney General Eric Holder.

On the other side, the NFL last year ramped up its Washington operations by hiring a full-time lobbyist and creating a political action committee to make federal campaign donations.

Congress has a history of shining unfriendly attention on sports leagues when the games stop. After the 232-day strike wiped out the 1994 World Series, several lawmakers introduced legislation to take away MLB's coveted antitrust exemption.

-- Frederic J. Frommer

Humbled Seahawks become soldiers for a day

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - T.J. Houshmandzadeh is used to manhandling NFL defensive backs. That skill made him the most coveted wide receiver in the free agent market this offseason.

But giant logs stacked into an A-frame, forming an apex 40 feet above sawdust? Those manhandled Houshmandzadeh on Thursday.

"What do I do now?" the 6-foot-2, 203-pound Seattle Seahawk cried from atop "The Weave."

It was the first test in a confidence course, on which soldiers train before leaving for Iraq and Afghanistan at one of the Army's most active domestic posts.

Fort Lewis is about an hour south of Seahawks headquarters, and about a world away from their opulent, lakeside training facility.

Beads of sweat dripped off Houshmandzadeh's goatee and into the sawdust below. With green pines stretching into the sunny sky, the Seahawks spent this 90-degree day with 16 different units participating in operations and exercises to emphasize the similarities in the team concepts of the NFL and the Army.

Houshmandzadeh spent his morning with combat medics carrying fictitiously wounded colleagues under 2-foot high barbed wire amid simulated gun fire. After lunch in unit mess hall, Houshmandzadeh was trying to weave his body over and under a series of horizontal logs to the top of the A-frame and back down.

He got up easily. Getting without falling and embarrassing - if not hurting himself - in front of more than 50 other Seahawks and dozens of soldiers running the course or cheering them on? That proved more difficult than beating a Pro Bowl cornerback on a go route.

Oh, Houshmandzadeh finally made it through "The Weave." He burned friction holes through a sweat shirt and workout T-shirt doing it.

"We're trying to correlate it to football. It's teamwork," Houshmandzadeh said. "But this is different. We screw up, we lose a play, maybe a game. These soldiers screw up, they lose a life."

While getting a preview of the 50-foot walls and ropes of the obstacle course, defensive back Jordan Babineaux called out, "I'm getting dizzy already! Heat exhaustion!"

Millionaire NFL players crawling through the same sawdust as privates who make a few hundred dollars a month is unique, but not unprecedented.

After two-plus hours under the hot sun, the Seahawks were reminded of a former NFL colleague who made a heroic and ultimately tragic career change.

"It's flippin' crazy, what Pat Tillman did," Houshmandzadeh said, before boarding an air-conditioned, chartered bus that took the Seahawks back to their facility. "It's unbelievable. It's literally unbelievable, man, to know what he did is what you're out here doing - only 100 times harder."

Tillman is the former safety for the Arizona Cardinals who gave up his NFL career by volunteering for the Army as an enlisted solider. He became a Ranger, deployed to Afghanistan and was killed there in 2004.

"It's unbelievable," Houshmandzadeh said again. "There's no way you can really have an appreciation, being out here, for what he did."

Seahawks assistant coach Larry Marmie, born in 1942, impressed his players by being one of the only coaches to go through each of the obstacles. Marmie was Tillman's position coach and then his defensive coordinator with the Cardinals.

Marmie and Seahawks safety Brian Russell were talking about Tillman minutes after they finished the confidence course.

"I was shocked when he first told me," Marmie said of Tillman's decision to give up NFL riches for the life the Seahawks got only a taste of Thursday. "But after I had a chance to talk to him and I thought about it, I could just see him doing something like that."

Despite the tragic ending, Marmie doesn't regret not talking Tillman out of leaving the NFL.

"Pat did what he wanted to do. It was his calling, his passion," Marmie said. "I just have the regret that he didn't come home."

Going home, of course, is what the Seahawks got to do after their day in the Army.

"Talking to them, the biggest sacrifice is the stress on the families," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "We have it tough in training camp, being away from our families for four weeks. These guys are doing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan for 15 months."

Hasselbeck spent his morning with the 555th combat Engineer Brigade, manning a machine gun while on a simulator clearing improvised explosive devices with teammates. Hasselbeck called it an "adrenaline rush." He spent the afternoon walking the courses with a pack on his back - "I'm the medic," he joked. After missing the majority of last season with a back injury, the Seahawks don't want to risk anything.

"It's amazing, to see what a day is in these soldiers' lives. And this is probably one of their easier days, hosting us," Hasselbeck said.

None of the soldiers said they wanted to trade lives with their privileged NFL visitors, defensive tackle Craig Terrill said, "and that was the coolest thing of the day."

"They are all very proud of their jobs," he said. "This is an all-voluntary military. No one forced them to do what they do. And they love it."

-- Gregg Bell

Cardinals sign safety Wilson to 5-year contract

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals took care of their top offseason priority on Thursday by signing two-time Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson to a new five-year, $39 million contract, with $18.5 million guaranteed.

The deal puts Wilson under contract through the 2013 season.

"The main point was we wanted to extend our relationship with a great football player," general manager Rod Graves said after a news conference to announce the signing.

"But I think the signing does indicate in many other ways the idea that you want to reward players who do things the right way," Graves said, "who are committed to excellence and who represent your organization exceptionally well."

Wilson is the hard-hitting leader of the Cardinals' defense and was a Pro Bowl selection in the 2006 and 2008 seasons. His old contract was due to expire after the coming season.

With his wife and two young children looking on, Wilson thanked those who had helped him along the way and outlined his goals for what he said probably will be the final contract of his career.

"I can't put into words exactly how I feel right now," Wilson said. "Every time I step on the field at the new stadium I look at all the names, the Ring of Honor and all that, and always say that one day I want my number up there, I want my number up there beside Aeneas (Williams), I want my number up there next to Pat (Tillman)."

The 29-year-old Wilson, entering his ninth NFL season, has 18 career interceptions and 18½ sacks. Only eight players in NFL history have at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks. He said he not only wants to be "in the 20-20 club," but eventually reach 30 interceptions and 30 sacks.

His top goal, though, is to win a Super Bowl, something that would have seemed ridiculous before the team's surprising near-miss last season.

"We as a team worked so hard to get to where we were last year," Wilson said, "and to not be able to finish it, I think it makes us that much hungrier to get back to where we were and finish the deal."

Next on Arizona's offseason list is a long-term deal for linebacker Karlos Dansby, who has been designated the team's franchise player for the second year in a row. Dansby attended the news conference, saying he was there to show his support and respect for Wilson.

"He paved the way for us. He's been here the longest and he's just shown us how to get it done," Dansby said, "how to get it done the right way, and everybody's taking note right now. It's a blessed day for him and his family."

Dansby said he's hopeful "to follow maybe in his footsteps and do the things the right way."

Once Dansby is signed, Graves has said he will turn his attention to trying to work out a new deal with disgruntled Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Boldin, who has asked to be traded, recently fired agent Drew Rosenhaus. While the NFL Players Association said Thursday that Boldin had not officially hired a replacement, Graves said he has already talked with agent Tom Condon about Boldin, indicating Condon would be the receiver's new agent.

In 2006, Wilson became the first defensive player in NFL history with two touchdown plays of at least 99 yards in the same season, one on an interception and another on a fumble return.

Wilson has been with the Cardinals longer than any other player on their roster, experiencing some rough years of losing before the team's unexpected run to the Super Bowl last season. Arizona drafted him out of North Carolina State in the third round in 2001. He signed a five-year deal with the team in 2005.

He's started 110 of his 118 games, compiling 651 career tackles, 481 of them solo, along with 63 pass deflections, 10 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. Last season, Wilson had 85 tackles, 2½ sacks and two interceptions.

In the team's four playoff games last season, the had 20 tackles and two forced fumbles.

A fierce pass rusher, he knocked Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards out of the game with a concussion on the third play of Arizona's 41-17 victory over the Bills last Oct. 5.

"I think in the end," Graves said, "he'll be recognized as not only one of the best players today, but one of the best players to have played the game."

-- Bob Baum

Henderson says injury real, wants to play for Jags

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle John Henderson wants to make it clear: He's not faking an injury, he's committed to the Jacksonville Jaguars and eager to return to form.

Henderson missed his third consecutive practice Thursday because of a dislocated shoulder, an injury coach Jack Del Rio questioned earlier in the week.

Henderson insisted the injury is legit and said he and Del Rio worked out their differences in a private meeting.

"I was a little upset, but we talked about it and everything is all right," Henderson said. "We talked like men. I let him know about the shoulder. He saw the X-rays. He was good on it. We're both good and we're getting back to work."

Henderson said his shoulder will be re-evaluated Monday and hopes to return to organized team activities later next week.

"It just has to heal on its own," he said.

Henderson can only hope his relationship with Del Rio does the same.

Del Rio ripped the 6-foot-7, 335-pound veteran after he pulled himself out of drills Monday and suggested Henderson wasn't committed to the team and was just trying to avoid work.

"Back when I played, and even prior to that, I don't think anybody would have had to miss a snap for it," Del Rio said. "I think it's a minor bruise of sorts. I would think Vince Lombardi is probably rolling over (in his grave) right now. It's not something that should keep anybody out of work."

Del Rio didn't back down from his stance Thursday, saying he has high expectations for his team.

"I've been very clear on what I expect and what I'm looking for and the accountability from there," Del Rio said. "There's no more to report on, there's no more to talk about. Now it's just time to get back to work."

Henderson said Del Rio warned him about the comments, but he was still surprised when he heard them.

"Just like your daddy getting on you," Henderson said. "Let it be. It's not anything to get blown out of the water. You have bigger and better things to do right now."

Henderson also said Jacksonville is the place he wants to be. He was a first-round pick by the Jaguars in 2002 and has missed just three games in seven seasons.

"I love this team. I love the Jags," he said. "I'm in. In. Everybody hear that? I've bought in. I'm here. I'm with this organization. I've been here eight years. I'm not tired. I love this game."

Henderson made the Pro Bowl in 2004 and 2006, but his performance slipped considerably the last two seasons. Henderson blamed last year's problems on the changes associated with replacing much of the defensive coaching staff following coordinator Mike Smith's departure.

He said off-the-field issues caused the drop-off in 2006.

"It was hard dealing with it and now I've got to move on," Henderson said. "Can't dwell on the past no more."

The Jaguars drafted 320-pound defensive tackle Terrance Knighton in the third round in hopes of surrounding Henderson with more talent, but Del Rio believes Henderson needs to do more for the team to make any defensive improvement this fall.

"He just wants us to be in," Henderson said. "I know where he's coming from. He wants me to be that leader and I understand that and that's what I'm doing. I'm going to do that just for him and for this team. There are a lot of young guys on this team and they need somebody to follow, and I'm going to be one of them and I'm ready for it. I'm ready."

Steelers to open training camp on July 31

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers will open training camp in Latrobe, Pa., on July 31 and will work out at Saint Vincent College through Aug. 20.

The first practice is scheduled for Aug. 1. Only afternoon practices will be open to the public.

The only evening practice will be Aug. 7 at Latrobe High School's stadium.

The Steelers will break camp before the second of their four exhibition games, shifting practice to their Pittsburgh training complex following their Aug. 22 game at Washington. Their first preseason game is Aug. 13 at home against Arizona, a rematch of last season's Super Bowl won by Pittsburgh.

The Steelers open the season Sept. 10 at home against Tennessee.

Mangini not decided on Quinn or Anderson

BEREA, Ohio - Browns coach Eric Mangini says he will not decide on Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson as Cleveland's starting quarterback until late in the preseason.

Mangini said before Thursday's voluntary practice that he will take his time evaluating the two quarterbacks and wants to see how they play in preseason games before making his choice.

Anderson was a Pro Bowl selection in 2007, but lost his job midway through last season to Quinn, the former Notre Dame star and first-round draft pick. Both Quinn (finger) and Anderson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries last season, when the Browns offense failed to score a touchdown in the club's final six games. Cleveland finished 4-12 and replaced coach Romeo Crennel with Mangini.

Jaguars bring Marlon McCree back for another stint

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran safety Marlon McCree, bringing him back to where he began his career.

The Jaguars also waived defensive tackle Nader Abdallah and safety Kevin Patterson on Thursday.

McCree likely will be the primary backup to starting safeties Reggie Nelson and Sean Considine this fall.

Jacksonville drafted McCree in the seventh round in 2001. He started 27 games before coach Jack Del Rio waived him in 2003. McCree has since played for Houston, Carolina, San Diego and Denver. He has 91 career starts, including eight games with the Broncos last season. He has 478 tackles and 16 interceptions in eight seasons.

Abdallah and Patterson, both rookies, signed with Jacksonville after April's draft.

Niners give 6-year extension to OT Joe Staley

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Left tackle Joe Staley has agreed to a six-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers that will keep him with the club through 2017.

A first-round pick in 2007, Staley started every game at right tackle as a rookie before moving to the other end of the line last year to replace the injury-prone Jonas Jennings.

Staley has played every offensive snap in his first two seasons with San Francisco since joining the club from Central Michigan.

General manager Scot McCloughan lauded Staley's work ethic in commenting on a deal he says puts the Niners in a good position going forward.

Clabo signs deal; Falcons cut 1, sign another

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Offensive guard Tyson Clabo signed his restricted free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons after starting all 16 games for the first time in his career.

Clabo was part of an offensive line that helped the Falcons finish second in the NFL with an average of 152.7 yards per game.

In other roster moves, the Falcons signed undrafted free agent wide receiver Bradon Godfrey, who had 128 receptions during his college career at Utah, and released linebacker Brock Christopher.

Britt Reid graduates from Pa. drug court program

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid's 24-year-old son, Britt Reid, has graduated from a drug court program.

Reid enrolled in the program early last year after a series of run-ins with the law.

He was arrested in January 2007 in West Conshohocken on drug and weapons charges after he flashed a gun at another driver in a road-rage incident and police found small amounts of cocaine and marijuana in his vehicle.

Reid graduated on Wednesday from a 15-month treatment program at the Montgomery County Drug Court, but District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said battling drug addiction is a lifelong process.

Reid's parents, Andy and Tammy Reid, were in the courtroom for the graduation. Andy Reid called it a "big step" for his son.

While enrolled in the program, Britt Reid began working at a catering company. He now attends Montgomery County Community College and helps coach football at St. Joseph's Preparatory School. He remains on probation for one year.

His older brother, Garrett, is serving a two-year sentence in a state program for drug treatment after he pleaded guilty to smuggling prescription pills into the Montgomery County jail. Last month, he was moved to state prison after he tested positive for narcotics upon returning to a halfway house from a furlough.

Stallworth enters plea in DUI manslaughter case

MIAMI - Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is pleading not guilty to DUI manslaughter charges from a fatal Miami car crash in which a pedestrian died.

The plea was entered at a brief court hearing Thursday by defense attorney Christopher Lyons. The 28-year-old Stallworth did not appear in court. A trial date has not been set.

Stallworth faces up to 15 years if convicted. Police say Stallworth was driving drunk after a night on the town when he struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes on a Miami Beach causeway.

Stallworth is free on $200,000 bail and is required to abstain from alcohol, not drive and observe a curfew.

Before Cleveland, he played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans in the NFL and in college for Tennessee.